A bonnet question

[frualeydis]

Do any of you know of any good books which shows bonnets from the 1850s and 60s? They are so small in the brim that it is very hard to find out from photos and fashion plates how they really look, even harder how they are made. Especially since they are usually pictured from the front.
If not, does anyone know of any patterns for them?
Book recommendations on mid 19th century fashion are also very welcome.

Apart from that it's snowing outside and we had a snowstorm yesterday. This means that my husband is staying home with me watching the soccer game on TV instead of live. I am currently sewing on my linen chainse to wear with my new bliaut. It will have pleated gores at the side, like the alb that's at the Abegg foundation. Not as prettily smocked though, since I've never done any smocking. I'm also getting close to finishing my second ball of yarn for my shawl which means that I've done half of it. Hooray!

Comments

[johannaelisabet.livejournal.com]

I recently bought Denise Drehers book "From the Neck up - An Illustrated Guide to Hatmaking". There are three patterns for mid-century bonnets in that book , but the brims look like they make up most of the bonnets. You are lucky because the only library in Sweden to have this book is Stadsbilioteket in Gothemburg. It is marked "referens" and can be found in the section Qcca. Looking at Google pictures I searched for bonnet 1850 and got some pictures of bonnets from different angles, both reproductions and from the era. Good luck!
Johanna